Just wanted to say hello
Discussion
Hello everyone,
after reading like 100 threads on this remarkable website, I just wanted to take the time and introduce myself and let you guys know, what I'm planning to do.
My name is Andi (as you might have guessed) I'm a 28 year old economist/strategist and head a tiny engineering company dealing in recycling technologies, near Frankfurt/Germany.
I'm driving my 6th car now (a pretty nice Audi A8L 4.2TDI) The one I had before was a BMW e39 540iA. The most difficult to drive car, I've driven for an extended period of time was a 928 Porsche that hat none of the electronic little helpers whatsoever. So, I've learned respect for cars that handle me better than I handle them, and won't get stupid with any "weapon" that I may build.
With every car, I've had so far, I felt the need to change something about it, in order to make it my own. e.g. the Audi now has a hard disk media player with 3 TB of hard disk space, and a 3G internet connection with Wifi for all the passengers. Also, I built a little box enabling me to switch on the factory auxiliary heater with my mobile phone. So you see, I like to build funny things, even though I still lack the skills for greatness (being an ape-like economist, whose 2 best features are opposable thumbs and the ability to read manuals in several languages)
But enough about me...
What I would like to do, is start building an Ultima GTR this Winter. I'm aware of the fact, that it will probably take me more than a year to get the car finished (if you can ever call it that). I want to use the car on weekends of for short trips, I have no interest in racing it, maybe I'll try it in Hockenheim or on the Nürburgring once or twice.
The setup I want to go for comprises
- a 7.0ltr LS7 by American Speed
- the 6 gear Getrag transaxle (if a nice sequential gearbox is possible, I'd like that,too)
- basically everything the list of accessories of Ultima have to offer
As addional non-factory options go, I would like to implement
- a rear view camera
- parking sensors
- digital speedo
- heat insulation between the engine and the cabin
- matt black finish exterior (I don't know what they call the stuff they glue on the car)
- alcantara and carpet in the interior
- ABS and traction control (if possible with a reasonable effort)
- some more electronics (I'm sure there'll be plenty of ideas that come to mind)
My questions to you guys are for now:
Is building the car easy enough for me to do with a litle outside help?
Would you suggest a differen engine or transaxle?
What do you think of my additions to the factory setup?
Most of them should easily be possible, but ABS etc. could be quite difficult. I have no experience here.
Does Ultima use a specific ECU for all the electronics? If they're working with a specific manufacturer, it might be a lot easier to implement some of the electronic gimmicks, I would like, by using the components of that manufacturer.
Does the Ultima have central locking?
Is there any space besides the passenger seat, where you can hide a small hand-luggage suitcase?
Is the chassis and the suspension problematic? (I mean just a mm tolerance somewhere could create problems)
I'll definitely be back with more questions.
Thanks to you all, for all the useful information you've postet and all the build diaries, that you've taken the time to put together. Without your teamspirit and freely giving information and assistance where it's needed, I would never dare to start a project like that. It's a bit sad that my father never had the technical knowledge or interest to do something like that with me, but with this community by my side, it might just work out for the best. Again, thank you all for everything you've provided so far.
Best regards,
Andi
after reading like 100 threads on this remarkable website, I just wanted to take the time and introduce myself and let you guys know, what I'm planning to do.
My name is Andi (as you might have guessed) I'm a 28 year old economist/strategist and head a tiny engineering company dealing in recycling technologies, near Frankfurt/Germany.
I'm driving my 6th car now (a pretty nice Audi A8L 4.2TDI) The one I had before was a BMW e39 540iA. The most difficult to drive car, I've driven for an extended period of time was a 928 Porsche that hat none of the electronic little helpers whatsoever. So, I've learned respect for cars that handle me better than I handle them, and won't get stupid with any "weapon" that I may build.
With every car, I've had so far, I felt the need to change something about it, in order to make it my own. e.g. the Audi now has a hard disk media player with 3 TB of hard disk space, and a 3G internet connection with Wifi for all the passengers. Also, I built a little box enabling me to switch on the factory auxiliary heater with my mobile phone. So you see, I like to build funny things, even though I still lack the skills for greatness (being an ape-like economist, whose 2 best features are opposable thumbs and the ability to read manuals in several languages)
But enough about me...
What I would like to do, is start building an Ultima GTR this Winter. I'm aware of the fact, that it will probably take me more than a year to get the car finished (if you can ever call it that). I want to use the car on weekends of for short trips, I have no interest in racing it, maybe I'll try it in Hockenheim or on the Nürburgring once or twice.
The setup I want to go for comprises
- a 7.0ltr LS7 by American Speed
- the 6 gear Getrag transaxle (if a nice sequential gearbox is possible, I'd like that,too)
- basically everything the list of accessories of Ultima have to offer
As addional non-factory options go, I would like to implement
- a rear view camera
- parking sensors
- digital speedo
- heat insulation between the engine and the cabin
- matt black finish exterior (I don't know what they call the stuff they glue on the car)
- alcantara and carpet in the interior
- ABS and traction control (if possible with a reasonable effort)
- some more electronics (I'm sure there'll be plenty of ideas that come to mind)
My questions to you guys are for now:
Is building the car easy enough for me to do with a litle outside help?
Would you suggest a differen engine or transaxle?
What do you think of my additions to the factory setup?
Most of them should easily be possible, but ABS etc. could be quite difficult. I have no experience here.
Does Ultima use a specific ECU for all the electronics? If they're working with a specific manufacturer, it might be a lot easier to implement some of the electronic gimmicks, I would like, by using the components of that manufacturer.
Does the Ultima have central locking?
Is there any space besides the passenger seat, where you can hide a small hand-luggage suitcase?
Is the chassis and the suspension problematic? (I mean just a mm tolerance somewhere could create problems)
I'll definitely be back with more questions.
Thanks to you all, for all the useful information you've postet and all the build diaries, that you've taken the time to put together. Without your teamspirit and freely giving information and assistance where it's needed, I would never dare to start a project like that. It's a bit sad that my father never had the technical knowledge or interest to do something like that with me, but with this community by my side, it might just work out for the best. Again, thank you all for everything you've provided so far.
Best regards,
Andi
I would say that quite a lot of your questions could be answered by the factory themselves, you could always try and get to the open day in August as well, ( I will be there asking a few questions ).
They do seem a friendly and helpful bunch, as do the guys on here, although they seem to be spending far too much time out with their cars as compared to other sites you might have to wait a while for an answer, ( but I suppose that's what you get for wanting one of these beasts ).
Steve.
They do seem a friendly and helpful bunch, as do the guys on here, although they seem to be spending far too much time out with their cars as compared to other sites you might have to wait a while for an answer, ( but I suppose that's what you get for wanting one of these beasts ).
Steve.
Andi82 said:
- matt black finish exterior (I don't know what they call the stuff they glue on the car)
You should have made that post 2 weeks ago.My car seem to be quite what you have in mind.
Now I left Germany (Cologne) for a couple of months and the Ultima is with me
Wrapping the car is a good idea.
CFC did a great job with mine:
http://sgm.styling-garage-merzig.de/referenzen/ult...
Painting the car costs more and will not last very long...
Andi82 said:
- ABS and traction control (if possible with a reasonable effort)
I've been once on the Nürburgring so far,and I didn't miss ABS any second.
It's so much fun to play with the AP brakes, they're very sensitive.
Adding ABS doesn't make much sense to me.
You won't drive the car in the rain anyway.
Andi82 said:
- some more electronics (I'm sure there'll be plenty of ideas that come to mind)
Do not get a stereo 
I have four speaker + subwoofer.
Yes, you can turn up the volume, but the resulting uproar is not enjoyable.
The engine is simply too noisy.
And when you drive it, you want to listen to the engine.
For any longer trips on the highway I'd recommend earplugs.
It's that loud.
- Steve,
I'll try to make it, but I'm afraid I can't just leave work any time I want. We have a saying in German, that once the cat has left the house, the mice dance on the table... You get my drift?
I do, however, have customers in England whom I have't visited in quite a while. :-) So, maybe I can squeeze something in.
- Mr. Snood,
ya, yours looks a lot like what I had in mind. Still, I'll go with the factory wheels and no red stripes. And I'm not yet sure about the colour, as I've also seen a very nice dark grey kinda silvery colour on one, that I also really liked. But I would definitely like to take a look at yours.
I wasn't really planning a stereo system, even though I think that some AC/DC might be appropriate in some situations. We'll see, I haven't even gotten to thinking about that yet.
For now, I'm much more interested in all the info, you can have displayed in the car and the way they are displayed. I really like digital displays for almost anything and a nicer looking speedo.
My list of little things, I'd like has already grown a lot larger
Rear view camera
Parking sensors
Digital Speedo
heat insulation against the engine
Carpets in the cabin
ABS
traction control
air intakes on the side
adjustable wing
g-force meter
GPS-system
PTFE lined fuel hoses
Stormforce cover
rev limiter
Bosch injection pump
Access Ignition System
Kill-Switch for fuel pump
Exhaust rings
power steering
oil temp gauge
transmission temp gauge
Launch control
I'm propably not gonna get half of the things accomplished, but it's nice to have dreams.
I'll try to make it, but I'm afraid I can't just leave work any time I want. We have a saying in German, that once the cat has left the house, the mice dance on the table... You get my drift?
I do, however, have customers in England whom I have't visited in quite a while. :-) So, maybe I can squeeze something in.
- Mr. Snood,
ya, yours looks a lot like what I had in mind. Still, I'll go with the factory wheels and no red stripes. And I'm not yet sure about the colour, as I've also seen a very nice dark grey kinda silvery colour on one, that I also really liked. But I would definitely like to take a look at yours.
I wasn't really planning a stereo system, even though I think that some AC/DC might be appropriate in some situations. We'll see, I haven't even gotten to thinking about that yet.
For now, I'm much more interested in all the info, you can have displayed in the car and the way they are displayed. I really like digital displays for almost anything and a nicer looking speedo.
My list of little things, I'd like has already grown a lot larger
Rear view camera
Parking sensors
Digital Speedo
heat insulation against the engine
Carpets in the cabin
ABS
traction control
air intakes on the side
adjustable wing
g-force meter
GPS-system
PTFE lined fuel hoses
Stormforce cover
rev limiter
Bosch injection pump
Access Ignition System
Kill-Switch for fuel pump
Exhaust rings
power steering
oil temp gauge
transmission temp gauge
Launch control
I'm propably not gonna get half of the things accomplished, but it's nice to have dreams.
I am fitting traction control and ABS to my finished car as we speak. Having bits properly made anodised etc. I made the decision to do this quite early on in my ownership of the car and am not sure if I would do it if I was making the decision now. It will all be adjustable and switch offable from the cockpit. The car also has a motec digital dash. There are other people on here using programmable flat screens etc to make completely custom displays. I would say each to his own. Some people prefer the raw race car effect and others go completely bling. You can get help and advice on every aspect from people on here.
I have a big loud stereo and have never turned it on except when working on the car in the garage. The engine is way to noisy. It gets hot in the cockpit but I think a lot of the heat comes from the radiator pipes which run up each side. Car does not have central locking as std but I have it combined with an alarm immobiliser and keyless go.
I have a big loud stereo and have never turned it on except when working on the car in the garage. The engine is way to noisy. It gets hot in the cockpit but I think a lot of the heat comes from the radiator pipes which run up each side. Car does not have central locking as std but I have it combined with an alarm immobiliser and keyless go.
Edited by MarkWebb on Monday 5th July 07:11
Hallo Andi,
I would suggest to get in contact with Sven Schimmelpfennig, www.ultimacars.de.
He can give you a lot of useful informations as he has built several cars until now.
You are welcome to have a look at my never ending build. I´m just an hour away from you
in Gruenstadt. Mail me via my profile if you are interested.
Viele Grüße
Michael
I would suggest to get in contact with Sven Schimmelpfennig, www.ultimacars.de.
He can give you a lot of useful informations as he has built several cars until now.
You are welcome to have a look at my never ending build. I´m just an hour away from you
in Gruenstadt. Mail me via my profile if you are interested.
Viele Grüße
Michael
- Mark
I would really like some more info on the ABS and traction control. What systems are you using.
My partner in my business is an electric engineer, so he actually dared me to program the car's ECU with a CAN-Bus-system by Eaton (that's what we use in our plants) myself, which obviously I'll have to do to earn his respect.
I don't know yet if there is a real control unit apart from the engine's controller, or if the wiring loom actually works without a bus-system. In any case, I'll have to make my own. Also, I'll have to implement sensors and gauges for basically every bit of information you could possibly ever want about the car and program readouts in the central ECU and some separate gauges.
About the race-car or bling... I don't care that much about how beautiful it looks. I want a lot of info to be available and I want some sort of a touchscreen to work with. (I can already see myself programming the control, so the lights get switched on when it's dark)
-Michael
Sven already contacted me and offerd his assistance. I'm a little busy right now, but I'll get back to him this week in order to hopefully get a better understanding of the project and its magnitude.
-DHGTR
Did I say something about a stereo? Anyways, a sat-nav will have to be in the car... otherwise I'd get completely lost once I leave the motorway.
I had a very long talk with my partner about the project today, and he (rightfully) advised me to build a working 80cm model car with a petrol engine without any help, before starting building the car that will probably kill me one day, to see if I'm able to get a complicated piece of machinery working. I think it's quite a good idea, the 5-year old little one will be happy and I'll have some more time to figure out the exact specs and parts needed for the GTR, before actually starting the build.
I would really like some more info on the ABS and traction control. What systems are you using.
My partner in my business is an electric engineer, so he actually dared me to program the car's ECU with a CAN-Bus-system by Eaton (that's what we use in our plants) myself, which obviously I'll have to do to earn his respect.
I don't know yet if there is a real control unit apart from the engine's controller, or if the wiring loom actually works without a bus-system. In any case, I'll have to make my own. Also, I'll have to implement sensors and gauges for basically every bit of information you could possibly ever want about the car and program readouts in the central ECU and some separate gauges.
About the race-car or bling... I don't care that much about how beautiful it looks. I want a lot of info to be available and I want some sort of a touchscreen to work with. (I can already see myself programming the control, so the lights get switched on when it's dark)
-Michael
Sven already contacted me and offerd his assistance. I'm a little busy right now, but I'll get back to him this week in order to hopefully get a better understanding of the project and its magnitude.
-DHGTR
Did I say something about a stereo? Anyways, a sat-nav will have to be in the car... otherwise I'd get completely lost once I leave the motorway.
I had a very long talk with my partner about the project today, and he (rightfully) advised me to build a working 80cm model car with a petrol engine without any help, before starting building the car that will probably kill me one day, to see if I'm able to get a complicated piece of machinery working. I think it's quite a good idea, the 5-year old little one will be happy and I'll have some more time to figure out the exact specs and parts needed for the GTR, before actually starting the build.
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